MOSCOW, October 14. /TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova has called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) not to palter with facts.
The diplomat drew attention to the fact that the ICAO "was concerned about the safety of flights over the areas where 26 Russian cruise missiles had been launched from the Caspian Sea." She recalled that Russia "had time and again informed the organization’s council about the potential danger of flights in the airspace over the eastern part of Ukraine."
"Before the MH17 tragedy, we repeatedly raised the issue of flight safety over the relevant territory of Ukraine at the ICAO," Zakharova said. "We said that full-scale hostilities were underway there, including flights of the Ukrainian Air Force and ballistic missile launches. However, in response we were told that no steps would be taken due to the political sensitivity of the issue — until the tragedy occurred, as we remember."
"You have to decide whether you favor the political sensitivity," the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson said. "Then let’s talk about the cruise missiles which have allegedly fallen somewhere referring to facts. But if you are in favor of impartiality, the question is: what is the purpose of constantly changing your stance and manipulating some facts?" she added.